Page 62 of Maddy's Justice

“…really well?”

“Briefly,” Connie replied.

“How well?” Melanie asked.

“Shut up, Marc,” Connie said again.

“Very,” Marc said. “Ships in the night.”

“Could you help us…”

“It ended badly,” Connie said.

“Too bad,” Melanie said but she was smiling when she said it.

“What did you need to see me about?” Melanie asked.

“A couple of things,” Connie said. “I heard from Lori Quinn. She is going to put it in writing, but she wanted to let me know right away. They rejected our settlement offer and…”

“Our what?” Melanie fiercely asked. “Who told you to make a settlement offer?”

“I thought that’s what you’d say. They didn’t tell you, obviously,” Connie answered. “Marc.”

“I was at Stafford’s Memorial Day party,” Marc began.

“I know, I was there. I hate your girlfriend, by the way. She’s stunning,” Melanie said.

“Pass the word to the boys,” Connie said. “She’s killed three people. All men. One of them she threw out a window eight stories up.”

“Seriously?”

“Anyway,” Marc said a little bit louder, “as I was saying, at the party I was taken inside and met with a partner, Wade MacAlister. The others were there too. All except you which I pointed out. To cut to the chase, MacAlister made it clear he wants this to wrap up and go away. He and the others told me to make an offer. Half a million each, no admission of liability and a nondisclosure signed.”

“Goddamnit!” Melanie exclaimed and slapped her hand on her desk.

“Why didn’t you…”

“I apologize for that,” Connie said. “They assured Marc you would be told.”

“I wasn’t too worried about it because we figured Quinn would turn it down and then we could come to you. That way, to be blunt, we could cover ourselves and not look like we went behind their backs,” Marc said.

“But” Marc continued, “you can tell them, no more of this. If you’d like, I’ll tell them. We deal only with you.”

“I’m afraid to say it,” Melanie said, more calmly, “but, good luck with that. Some pretty large egos.”

“Okay, but I won’t do anything they say without running it by you,” Marc said. “This won’t happen again.”

“Good,” Melanie said.

“The other thing is,” Connie said, “we need to start looking at every female employee you’ve had, past or present, since Troy McGovern came on board.”

“Why?”

“Lori flat out told me she expects more women to come forward. More plaintiffs. That’s why she didn’t make a counteroffer.”

“She’s digging,” Melanie said.

“Will there be more?” Marc asked.

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